Equestrian Performance is a Team Game

At Core Physio we support performance for all levels by accessing what both your bodies are capable of. The Core Physio Approach is to choose where you want to focus - Horse and Rider as a team, Rider only or Horse only.

Physio for Horse & Rider Team

Physio for Riders only

Carrot Stretch

Physio for Horses only

Physiotherapy for Horse & Rider as a Team

Performance is a team game. By working with you and your horse we can optimise your progress and help hone you awareness of how you use your body affects how your horse uses theirs. You will both have asymmetries and compensation patterns - often building on each other. By working with you are a combination we can support overcoming these and ensuring you can both perform at your best for long term functionality and enjoyment.

Assessment

Riding changes out isometric strength, balance and endurance on all 3 planes. We then add the specific movement challenge presented by each individual horse and the tack we use. The assessment will include:
  • ridden movement patterns & symmetry
  • tack
  • co-oridination
  • muscle isolation
  • compensation patterns
  • dynamic postural analysis...

Treatment Options

There are many option to support change that will benefit us and our horse the most. These include:

  • joint & soft tissue mobilisations
  • dry needling
  • proprioceptive retraining
  • dynamic stretches
  • strengthening
  • ...

Physiotherapy for Horses

Horses, like people can suffer injuries, in fact often more so. This can be due to acute injuries sustained in the paddock, or even during ridden activities.

They can also become sore from training issues, low grade lameness, and weakness in certain areas of their bodies.

Physiotherapy aims to assess the reason for the pain, or lack of performance, and devise a strategic treatment plan involving goal setting, and advice to achieve return to full function.

At times, when necessary, the physiotherapist will work in conjunction with the vet, farrier, and saddle fitter to ensure all aspects of the horse’s well being are considered.

Freedom and beauty in movement requires comfort and elasticity body wide. Old injuries, training methods and history can leave a legacy that takes away from a horses ability to enjoy its full range of motion. Physiotheraphy can restore and enhance your horses ability to express itself physically and emotionally. Bringing awareness and release to tension and compensation patterns.

Assessment - Diagnosis has evolved with Motion Capture & AI Analysis

We use Sleip motion capture to analyse to precisely detect asymmetries. By adding technology to years of diagnosing and treating all manner of well-ness issues, we can get your horses back to full performance as quickly as possible

To complement and augment the SLEIP findings we use:

  • ridden and unridden visual gait analysis
  • range of motion testing
  • musculture develop and symmetry observation
  • suppleness checks
  • limb alignment when static and in motion
  • ...

Treatment Options 

Treatment approaches include:

  • joint & soft tissue mobilisations
  • dry needling
  • proprioceptive retraining
  • dynamic stretches
  • strengthening

Some parts of the treatment will be done by Lindsey and some you will be able to do yourself with detailed instructions.

Revisit, revise and optimise

Each horse will respond differently to treatment and the plan needs to be revised to ensure it focuses on what is presenting currently.

Physiotherapy for Riders

Our stability, symmetry and balance play a huge role in inviting the horse to share it's beauty. Our effectiveness in the saddle can be enhanced in many ways both on the horse and off it. So where do we begin...

Lindsey can also provide mobile physiotherapy to the rider as well as having her own clinic in Muriwai, Auckland. She is also trained in Pilates which is a valuable tool for improving core strength and stability in all patients, and can highly benefit the rider to ensure best position when on the horse.

Group pilates to build, stability, symmetry and balance in a fun and progressive way
Lindsey's treatment room is in a beautiful tropic garden setting
Group pilates building strength, symmentry and balance in a fun and progressive way

Assessment - know your start point

Is one rein more challenging than the other? Are certain movements remaining illusive when others seem to be easy to master? Do you wake up sore and wonder if this is how it going to be from now on?

Hardly any of us are symmetrical and injury free. The resulting compensation patterns can go under the radar for years. When someone with the knowledge to assess our biomechanical functionality illuminates where we can make our lives, and our horses easier, it can be a gamecharger. Then we can make a plan for where our bodies could benefit from some strengthening, lengthening or stabilising. Assessment will include:

  • range of motion
  • dynamic stability under load
  • balance
  • ...

Treatment Options

Physiotherapy has many options. One on one treatments, group pilates and off-horse training on your own can all have massive benefits for us and our horses. Comfort and biomechanical sustainability contribute to our riding enjoyment and effectiveness. A personalised plan ensure you move towards your goal in an optimised way.

  • joint & soft tissue mobilisations
  • dry needling
  • proprioceptive retraining
  • dynamic stretches
  • strengthening
  • group pilates

Monitor progress - recalibrate to ensure you are on track

All bodies respond individually to movement. By revisiting and revising, if necessary, your intentions and plan, the conversation with what your body most needs at that time is maintained. We do this for our horses, so let's do this for ourselves too.